I am seeking some advice about taking a skunk without getting skunked in the process. I have been doing taxidermy for about a year but have not ever done a skunk before. I have a very large skunk on my property that I would like to mount. Of course I don't want to deal with a smelly critter which would make the project undesirable. Is there any way to kill this skunk and avoid the spraying at the same time? How about skinning and handling it after the fact. Thanks, Ron.
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I use rubbing alchohol and inject it into the chest cavitytrying for the heart or lungs. We catch them in a cage trap if possible. Sometimes it works and then there are those other times....
I use a live animal trap, I set the trap inside a garbage bag so once the skunk is in it I can close the end of the garbage bag. He won't spray when hes sealed up, I guess they don't like the smell either.
After that I take the cage and stinky to our fast moving creek, Remove the bag and at the same time set the cage in the water, the next day all is fine with no smell.
P.S. Sometimes its a good idea to lock the cage door open so the skunk can go in and out to get the bait to get him used to the cage before the door slams shut on him.
Skunks can't disperse the scent if they can't lift their tails. Usually most of the smaller traps they get caught in won't allow this and they are quite docile critters. A cb cap to the skull quickly dispatches them and there are no last minute antics. Remember though, the skunk doesn't have to be alive for the chemicals to work. If YOU lift its tail and squeeze the glands, I assure you the smell will be just as intense. Go to the "search" icon and look it up.
when I was a kid I live trapped a smeller and carried it all the way home (2 miles) without getting sprayed. I always thought I had some unique gift (Dr Dolittle) or was just the bravest kid in town. Now you wnet and ruined that! I never thought it was because he couldn't raise his tail. I still think your just making it up!
Dave
At least about the shot in the head trick. Every one I have thumped with a .22 to the skull died on the spot with no spray.
If it's a lie, however, I heard it from an Air Force Entomologist in Amarillo Texas many years ago. At that time, the bug getters also were responsible for varmint control and a skunk was under our Hq Orderly Room. He used a box trap, but the skunk was small and he got a face full for his effort. Besides his ego being busted, his remark that the $%^& skunk was so small he was able to life his tail, otherwise he'd have never gotten sprayed. Biologically, the anal glands are pressed down by the muscles that make the tail go UP. LOL
PEW! The postings coming to your aid are all correct. BUT! I have a buddy that worked at fish and game and the way they get rid of nuisance skunks without getting sprayed is to lift them by the tail. If you can get to a point where you can pick the skunk up by the tail, he cannot spray you
Tom
when skinnng be careful not to cut into glands, and if you do be prepared to wretch no mater how you kill it.
If you cath the skunk in a lve trap, just gently gethim to a fairly deep water,and set him in, after a few minutes, he will be dead. When you skin him, do not cot the glands, an then , when the skin is off, wash the spots where the glands were with some white gas. This has worked very well for me.